Criminal Injustice: An Examination of Racial Profiling and Discriminatory Police Practices in Canada and the United States

The Black Lives Matter movement swept across the United States after the murders of black people at the hands of law enforcement. Not fully acknowledged in the media are the police brutality cases that have also occurred in Canada, a country that prides itself on tolerance, acceptance, and diversity. Police brutality is an unfortunate reality that stems from racial profiling, one of the many symptoms of historically oppressive institutions. In this paper, I will examine police coercion and racial profiling in Canada and the United States. This paper will employ a theoretical framework of conflict theory and minority threat hypothesis to provide a structural explanation of this discriminatory practice in both countries. The United States and Canada have histories of oppression, repression, slavery, and colonialism that have provided the foundation for and legitimized racial profiling. As demonstrated by the literature, racial profiling is an unfortunate reality for racial minorities and their communities. Racial minorities are subjected to disproportionate rates of searches, stops, arrests, and incarceration. Therefore, racial minorities often have unfavorable attitudes of police which undermine police legitimacy. Considering the changing demographics, racial profiling can be understood as an effort by the dominant class to assert their power and control over the powerless

Competencia de determinación, mentalidad de crecimiento y capacidad mental entre estudiantes filipinos de secundaria

Educators and mental health professionals have promoted social and emotional learning (SEL) as the foundation for safe and positive education. SEL factors such as grit competency and growth mindset were the critical factors in this research, along with the student’s mental ability level. Grit competency pertains to one’s ability to work hard, overcome setbacks, finish tasks, and set long-term goals. At the same time, a growth mindset refers to believing intelligence and ability can change with persistence and practice and believing interests and behaviors can positively change with effort and learning. This research aimed to determine the grit and growth mindset levels of 137 all-female Filipino senior students from Quezon City and test their relationship with mental ability. A standardized test measured grit competency and growth mindset, while the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, 7th Edition (OLSAT-7), measured cognitive ability. Results signified a low and negative relationship between grit competency and mental ability, with r = -.152 and p = 0.039 < 0.05. Similarly, there was a low and negative relationship between a growth mindset and cognitive ability with a value of r = -.157 and p = 0.034 < 0.05. Keywords: Grit Competency; Growth Mindset; Mental Ability; High School Students.Los educadores y los profesionales de la salud mental han estado promoviendo el aprendizaje social y emocional (SEL) como la base para un aprendizaje seguro y positivo. Los factores SEL como la competencia de valor y la mentalidad de crecimiento fueron los factores clave (SEL) en esta investigación, junto con el nivel de capacidad mental del estudiante. La competencia de determinación se refiere a la capacidad de uno para trabajar duro, superar contratiempos, terminar tareas y establecer metas a largo plazo, mientras que una mentalidad de crecimiento se refiere a creer que la inteligencia y la capacidad pueden cambiar con la persistencia y la práctica, y creer que los intereses y comportamientos pueden cambiar positivamente con el esfuerzo y el aprendizaje. Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar los niveles de determinación y mentalidad de crecimiento de 137 estudiantes filipinas de último año de la ciudad de Quezon y probar su relación con la capacidad mental. Una prueba estandarizada midió la capacidad de determinación y la mentalidad de crecimiento, mientras que la capacidad mental se midió mediante la Prueba de capacidad escolar de Otis-Lennon, 7.ª edición (OLSAT-7). Los resultados indicaron una relación baja y negativa entre la competencia de determinación y la capacidad mental, con un valor de r = -.152 y p = 0.039 < 0.05. De igual forma, hubo una relación baja y negativa entre mentalidad de crecimiento y habilidad mental con un valor de r = -.157 y p = 0.034 < 0.05. Palabras clave: Competencia de determinación; mentalidad de crecimiento; habilidad mental; estudiantes de secundaria

“Current thoughts” in electrosurgery

The ongoing desire to improve hemostasis and efficiency during surgery is manifested in the rapid development of electrosurgical technology. These changes have brought about a wide variety of devices available to the practicing surgeon during both open and endoscopic cases. Depending on the instrument chosen, various clinical effects ranging from simple coagulation to the sealing of large vascular bundles are obtained. However potential pitfalls or complications also exist. A thorough understanding of the pros and cons of these technological advancements can improve the operative experience for both surgeon and patient.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135307/1/ijgo245.pd

Estudo sobre o acolhimento de crianças e adolescentes em instituições para pessoas com deficiência

Este artigo tem como objetivo investigar as instituições de acolhimento para pessoas com deficiência no estado de São Paulo, assim como analisar o acolhimento de crianças e adolescentes nestes serviços. Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa, de caráter descritivo e corte transversal. Na primeira etapa de coleta de dados, o estudo realizou um mapeamento das instituições em diferentes cadastros, de livre acesso, dos serviços públicos e conveniados, ligados à gestão federal, estadual e municipal nas áreas da infância, assistência social e saúde. Na segunda etapa, a coleta de dados ocorreu por meio da leitura de prontuários em uma instituição específica. Como resultado, o estudo indica ausência de tipificação única ou regulamentação específica, assim como a falta de práticas de desinstitucionalização e desarticulação com a rede intersetorial. Os resultados revelam, também, que a internação de crianças e adolescentes é recorrente nessas instituições e retratam características desta prática: ocorrência de transinstitucionalização, internações via determinação judicial e falta ou precariedade de serviços territoriais e de ações intersetoriais. Por fim, é apontada a necessidade de implantação de redes substitutivas e desenvolvimento de ações intersetoriais de atenção para crianças e adolescentes. Além da fundamental relevância de aprofundamento sobre a população institucionalizada.This study seeks to investigate the care institutions for people with disabilities in São Paulo State and analyze the admission of children and adolescents to these services. This is a qualitative descriptive study with a cross-sectional sample. In its first stage, this study mapped the institutions in different free-access registers of public and contracted services, tied to federal, state, or municipal management in the areas of childhood, social assistance, and health. In its second step, data were collected by reading the medical records of a specific institution. As a result, this study points to the lack of a single typification or specific regulation, the absence of deinstitutionalization practices, and the lack of coordination with the intersectoral network. Results also show that the recurrent institutionalization of children and adolescents in these institutions and describes the characteristics of this practice: the occurrence of transinstitutionalization, hospitalizations via judicial determination, and lack or precariousness of territorial services and intersectoral actions. Finally, this research points to the need for implementing substitutive networks and developing intersectoral actions of care for children and adolescents and highlights the key relevance of further developing knowledge about the institutionalized population

Actitudes y competencia percibida de los psicometristas hacia la teleevaluación psicológica en Filipinas

This study aims to determine the attitudes and perceived competence level of 64 Filipino registered psychometricians with prior experience in psychological tele-assessment to conduct this service for their present and future clientele. Researchers used the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) that connects attitude and mental health services and a five-theme framework that discusses the factors or needs in facilitating successful tele-assessment. The results revealed a predominantly positive attitude toward psychological tele-assessment yet with the emergence of contradicting appraisals. Most tended to agree on the benefits of tele-assessment in addressing mental health concerns, but concerns about its flexibility, privacy, confidentiality, rapport, and communication were salient. Respondents reported high openness to conducting tele-assessment in the future but recognized that this was more challenging than the traditional assessment. They evaluated themselves with low confidence and were somewhat knowledgeable about the ethical issues involved in this service. Results further indicated low perceived competence to conduct tele-assessment. They expressed the need for more training, specific local guidelines, access to technology, and available online tests for tele-assessment. Keywords: Psychological Tele-Assessment; Attitude; Perceived Competence; Psychometricians; Philippines.Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar las actitudes y el nivel de competencia percibido de 64 psicometristas registrados filipinos con experiencia previa en teleevaluación psicológica para llevar a cabo este servicio para su clientela presente y futura. Los investigadores utilizaron la teoría unificada de aceptación y uso de la tecnología (UTAUT) que conecta la actitud y los servicios de salud mental y un marco de cinco temas que analiza los factores o necesidades para facilitar una teleevaluación exitosa. Los resultados revelaron una actitud predominantemente positiva hacia la teleevaluación psicológica pero con la aparición de valoraciones contradictorias. La mayoría tendió a estar de acuerdo con los beneficios de la teleevaluación para abordar los problemas de salud mental, pero las preocupaciones sobre su flexibilidad, privacidad, confidencialidad, relación y comunicación fueron las más destacadas. Los encuestados informaron una gran apertura para realizar una teleevaluación en el futuro, pero reconocieron que esto era más desafiante que la evaluación tradicional. Se evaluaron a sí mismos con poca confianza y estaban algo informados sobre los problemas éticos involucrados en este servicio. Los resultados indicaron además una baja competencia percibida para realizar la teleevaluación. Expresaron la necesidad de más capacitación, pautas locales específicas, acceso a la tecnología y pruebas en línea disponibles para la teleevaluación. Palabras clave: teleevaluación psicológica; actitud; competencia percibida; psicometristas; Filipinas

Explorations in the Crafting of Government’s Authority and Power Using Institutional Ethnography: The Case of the 2013 Zamboanga Crisis

Crisis response is a clear illustration of what Migdal (2004) posits in his Statein-society approach: the iterative relationship between State authority and social actors\u27 everyday practices. As the rise in recent natural and humanmade disasters call for proficiencies in crisis response, it becomes essential to observe how the variabilities in State-in-society responses unfold through institutionally coordinated everyday social relations. The situation reveals the need to theorize these relationships on the grounds of the dynamic coconstitution of State-in-society. This study employed institutional ethnography (Devault & McCoy, 2002; Smith, 2005); observing the interplay of various actors\u27 interests and strategies within institutional processes after the massive internal displacement that resulted from the 2013 Zamboanga siege. Whereas the Philippines is often portrayed as a weak State with a resilient population, this study suggests the Philippine State\u27s fluid crafting, as illustrated in how various social actors reinterpret, negotiate, and appropriate State, specifically the dispersed government\u27s power and authority during crises. The processes of assisting IDP provided opportunities for local and national actors to redefine their positions against one another and influence the crisis response process\u27s outcomes

Comparing the da Vinci Si Single Console and Dual Console in Teaching Novice Surgeons Suturing Techniques

Background and Objectives: Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery is often taught with the surgical mentor at the surgeon console and the trainee at the patient\u27s bedside. The da Vinci dual console (Intuitive Surgical, Sunny-vale, California) allows a surgical mentor to teach with both the mentor and the trainee working at a surgeon console simultaneously. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the dual console versus the single console for teaching medical students robotic tasks. Methods: Forty novice medical students were randomized to either the da Vinci single-console or dual-console group and were taught 4 knot-tying techniques by a surgical mentor. The students were timed while performing the tasks. Results: No statistically significant differences in mean task times were observed between the single-and dual-console groups: interrupted stitch with a 2-handed knot (300 seconds for single vs 294 seconds for dual, P = .59), interrupted stitch with a 1-handed knot (198 seconds for single vs 212 seconds for dual, P = .88), figure-of-8 stitch with a 2-handed knot (261 seconds for single vs 219 seconds for dual, P = .20), and figure-of-8 stitch with a 1-handed knot (200 seconds for single vs 199 seconds for dual, P = .53). Conclusion: No significant difference was observed in performance time when teaching knot-tying techniques to medical students using the da Vinci dual console compared with the single console. More research needs to be performed on the utility of the da Vinci dual console in surgical training

Fatores psicossociais e comportamentais associados ao risco de DST/AIDS entre estudantes da área de saúde

This study aimed to identify and compare psychosocial and behavioral factors associated to STD/AIDS risk among students enrolled in the first and last years of the Nursing and Medical Undergraduate Programs at State University of Londrina. A convenience sample was selected from 263 enrolled students, and the 183 students who were sexually active (70.4%) had their data assessed. The Aids Risk Reduction Model framework was used to design the questionnaire in which a 5% statistical significance level was considered. Some risk factors were identified such as the perception of invulnerability, multiple sexual partners, consumption of alcoholic beverages before intercourse, and the discontinuous use or no use of condom. The risk factors are common both to the freshman and senior students, with no significant differences related to the passage of time or to the students' higher educational level. Senior students tend to be monogamous which makes them feel safer and decrease the use of condom with their sexual partners.Este estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar y comparar los factores psico-sociales y comportamentales asociados al riesgo de ETS/sida entre estudiantes del primero y del último año de los cursos de Enfermería y Medicina de la Universidad Estatal de Londrina. Fue seleccionada una muestra por conveniencia, compuesta por 263 alumnos matriculados, de los cuales fueron analizadas las informaciones de 183 estudiantes sexualmente activos (70,4%). Para la elaboración del cuestionario, se utilizó la estructura del Modelo de Reducción de Riesgo de Sida, adoptándose el 5% como nivel significativo. Algunos factores de riesgo fueron identificados tales como, la percepción por la falta de vulnerabilidad, múltiples compañeros sexuales, el uso de bebidas alcohólicas antes de las relaciones sexuales y la falta de uso o uso descontinuado del preservativo. Se concluyó que, esos factores son comunes a los dos grupos, no generándose cambios significativos al paso del tiempo, ni con el incremento en el nivel educativo de los mismos. Los alumnos del último año tienden a adoptar un único compañero, lo que les genera mayor seguridad, disminuyendo por tanto el uso de preservativo con sus parejas sexuales.Este estudo objetivou identificar e comparar os fatores psicossociais e comportamentais associados ao risco de DST/aids entre estudantes do primeiro e do último ano dos cursos de Enfermagem e Medicina da Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Selecionou-se uma amostra de conveniência, composta pelos 263 alunos matriculados, tendo sido analisados os dados dos 183 estudantes sexualmente ativos (70,4%). Utilizou-se a estrutura do Modelo de Redução de Risco da Aids para a elaboração do questionário, adotando-se 5% como nível de significância estatística. Alguns fatores de risco foram identificados como a percepção de invulnerabilidade, a referência a múltiplos parceiros sexuais, o uso de bebidas alcoólicas antes das relações sexuais e o uso descontínuo ou não uso do preservativo. Conclui-se que esses fatores são comuns às duas séries, não havendo mudanças significativas com o passar do tempo e com a maior graduação dos alunos. Os alunos do último ano tendem a adotar a parceria única e parecem sentir-se mais seguros, diminuindo o uso do preservativo com seus parceiros sexuais